How We Found WE
We all discover Waggener Edstrom in our own unique way. This week we explored how two of our New York summer interns landed at the agency. Please read on as they share how they found WE:
Jamie’s Story:
Graduation was approaching and my feet felt like they were on opposite sides of the San Andreas Fault before “the big earthquake.” College was pretty enjoyable but on the other side I was forced to think about my journey into “the real world.”
Where should I work? Where do I live? Why does everyone else seem to have their lives figured out besides me? I decided to participate in a school-sponsored excursion to visit different agencies around New York City. I saw many impressive firms covering the gamut of what the industry has to offer. But I never felt at home.
We were given a few hours to explore the city and to network. That’s when I decided to contact Bianca Mashal, an old college friend who worked at Waggener Edstrom. We met for a cup of coffee and she explained her job, the atmosphere, and fortunately for me, a potential opportunity to get involved. When Bianca spoke about WE, her genuine enthusiasm was obvious. I found myself hanging on to each sentence and thinking how amazing it would be if I could somehow find my way into being a part of the world she was describing. A world where interns are valued, people take the time to get to know each other, and most of all, being part of a team that stands out in the industry.
I filled out my application that night, and eagerly waited for a response. In anticipation of an interview I researched blog posts and case studies; each client perked my interest more and more. I knew I had to do whatever it took to join this team.
Upon hearing the great news that I was offered the internship, I immediately felt relief that some of my questions were beginning to get answered, but the true sense of accomplishment came from knowing that I was doing it the right way and at the right place. Since my time here began just a few short weeks ago, I have felt more useful and engaged than at any other internship or work environment in the past. I am appreciating being trusted with increased responsibilities and am eager for even more. I have a long way to go, but thanks to Waggener Edstrom, not only do I feel that I’m building a strong foundation, but also, the real world is a lot less scary.
Derek’s Story:
After a couple of different jobs in a few industries I found a role I felt was setting me up to make the transition into Public Relations. In this role I was consulting and recruiting for big time PR agencies. I gained a great deal of knowledge regarding what the agency world was like and made some very valuable connections, which ultimately led me to where I am today. One of the most important connections I made was at the PR Week Awards, where I was seated at a table with two Waggener Edstrom employees. I broke the ice by introducing myself and as time went on we discussed what they do and a little bit more about the company. We seemed to really hit it off as I have always had a passion for technology, so the fact that one of WE’s biggest clients is Microsoft had me hooked from the start. As the night went on we continued to chat, during which time I expressed my interest in moving into agency life, and that is when I was encouraged to check out opportunities at WE, specifically the internship program. This was a night I would remember, and over the coming weeks as I researched WE asked myself: “Is this the right time?” “Am I ready?” “Should I wait longer?” Finally, I decided there was no time like the present, so I applied to the internship program. A few weeks later I got a chance to interview. Before I knew it, I was coming in for my first day as an intern at WE. I will always remember this story because a complete stranger took some time to have a conversation and share some information that ultimately changed my life. I can only hope that I can continue to represent WE in the future the same way they did.
